Crocs and Cards

In this series, we will look at some of the submissions from all of you and respond to 2 or 3 each week in either a mini-sermon or a dedicated lesson. Let’s see what we got in store this week...

Idiot Shoes

Submission: Crocs

Background… In 2006, the movie “Idiocracy” debuted in theaters. It lampooned the idea that society would devolve into pop-culture consuming, lazy idiots controlled by corporate sponsor propaganda and a worldview that stopped maturing at age 12. One of the producers said they wanted to make sure the costumes oozed “idiot”. That involved clothes covered in sponsors, suits with ripped off sleeves, and the dumbest footwear they could find anywhere. They said this footwear was so hideous and stupid-looking that no one would have ever heard of them. The footwear was the now-famous “Croc” brand.

Movie actually FILMED in 2004 and the costume director said, “Perfect, these look plastic, futuristic, and totally stupid. By the time this movie comes out, this company will definitely be bankrupt and no one will know what they are.”.

There’s truth to the phrase “a happy idiot”...

Ecclesiastes 1:12–18 CSB

12 I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my mind to examine and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven. God has given people this miserable task to keep them occupied. 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind. 15 What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted. 16 I said to myself, “See, I have amassed wisdom far beyond all those who were over Jerusalem before me, and my mind has thoroughly grasped wisdom and knowledge.” 17 I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge, madness and folly; I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind. 18 For with much wisdom is much sorrow; as knowledge increases, grief increases.

Some knowledge is great.… Proverbs 2:6 “6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

Too much knowledge is counter productive…

Futile —> Will you save yourself? Will you “know” your way beyond your life’s troubles?

Luke 12:24 CSB

24 Consider the ravens: They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than the birds?

Futile —> The Lord reveals what He will reveal...

Romans 11:33–36 CSB

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? 35 And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid? 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.

Solomon discovers that contentment comes from knowing of God, not knowing of the world.

Ecclesiastes 12:12–14 CSB

12 But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body. 13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Read and consider the following... - It’s futile to “know” your future plans; God has a plan for you | Luke 12:24 - It’s futile to find contentment in knowledge, because knowledge of all things is not yours | Romans 11:33-36 What are different ways people try to use knowledge to find peace and contentment? What have you seen in these people when their “knowledge” is either proven to be untrue or the circumstances change meaning the “knowledge” they found comfort in is now irrelevant?

Evil Demon Pokémon… I choose you!

Submission: The "inappropriate demon worship" of Pokémon

Many struggle with the idea of cultural celebrations, entertainment, and products. I have a practical response and a theological response.

PRACTICAL: Where do you draw the line?

Examples of acceptable “demon worship” by almost all Christians...

Cupid Angels —> Putti, hallmarks of Greco-Roman pagan art representing the Erotes (assistants to Aphrodite)

Knocking on Wood —> Appealing to the tree spirits for fortune

Nike Shoes —> Based on the god “Nike”

Bridesmaids —> Originally to deceive the evil spirits and make it harder for them to attack the “real bride” by making the bridesmaids all look the same.

Yawning and Sneezing —> Pagan beliefs held that these were situations where the ‘breath of life’ exited you, so you’d cover your mouth when you yawn and say “Jupiter preserve you!” when you sneezed.

Holiday traditions —> A blend of Christian, Pagan, etc beliefs across generations/cultures

Days and Months —> Days are mostly Norse pagan holidays (“Woden’s Day” —> Wednesday —> Odin) and months are Greco-Roman.

Intent matters: In all of these things

Classic example: Halloween.

“You celebrate demons!” —> There are loose connections to Samhein (pagan) but lost all pagan meaning in the 700s and 800s AD. It became a part of Christianize festivities (like an Easter bunny or Christmas tree), then in the early 1900s totally transformed again into a way for mischievous kids to disguise themselves as they committed pranks. What kids do today is much more connected to post-Catholic traditions of the Medieval ages than it is the Celts.

Modern example: K-pop Demon Hunters.

“It celebrates demons!” —> It reflects Korean folk tales and ancient religion in a clearly “fantasy” manner. If the religion aspect is just irrelevant or non-sense, then all it becomes is art and culture WHICH GETS US TO THE THEOLOGICAL POINT.

The World = NO POWER

Jesus teaches that it is not “what goes in” that makes someone defiled; but “what comes out”.

Matthew 15:10–20 CSB

10 Summoning the crowd, he told them, “Listen and understand: 11 It’s not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth—this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came up and told him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” 13 He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted. 14 Leave them alone! They are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 Then Peter said, “Explain this parable to us.” 16 “Do you still lack understanding?” he asked. 17 “Don’t you realize that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander. 20 These are the things that defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a person.”

Connects to Paul’s commentary on food, and differing practices in general

Romans 14:1–4 CSB

1 Welcome anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about disputed matters. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while one who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat, and one who does not eat must not judge one who does, because God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge another’s household servant? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand, because the Lord is able to make him stand.

NOT SAYING —> “Everything is ok”...

Romans 14:19–23 CSB

19 So then, let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. 20 Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong to make someone fall by what he eats. 21 It is a good thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble. 22 Whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith, and everything that is not from faith is sin.

Individuals have Individual Convictions: PERSONAL EXAMPLE… The lottery

Those who believe it is wrong; know that conviction is for you.

Those who believe it is fine; know that the liberty you feel is directly because the world “is meaningless” and all that is here is what God has given us… but that we should not cause someone to compromise their convictions.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: What are some things that some folks think are “religiously bad” but seem like they’re more of a cultural observation? Do you think some of these things are wrong? Are there things that YOU feel are wrong, but you don’t judge others for doing them? Read Jesus’s words in Matthew 15:10-20 and Paul in Romans 14:1-4;19-23. Note how these words focus much more on what’s coming from your heart than what is projected on to you. Does this mean that if it “feels right” it’s automatically virtuous? What are ways we can improve our discernment over whether something is good or bad FOR US?

The Culture Thread

The thread that ties it all together is the intersection of culture and how worked up we get about cultures other people belong to.

If you feel earnestly convicted that something is wrong, it’s wrong.

If you feel earnestly convicted that something is acceptable, don’t let someone else wagging a finger at you (alone) be what convicts you.

Much bad is done by individuals being spiritual “know it alls”; in the end it leads to hurt feelings and divisions amongst the church family all around.

Solomon warned against being a “know it all”; we can see the dangers of acting on that “know it all” identity in how we micro-analyze what others do.

The focus should be on what Paul said there towards the end of Romans 14… let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another.

If someone is erring IN FACT, we should tell them.

BUT… if someone is just living their life different from us and have different passions and convictions from us, we must remember that HE is God and that WE are not.